(Un)kind : How Kindness Culture Punishes Women

Published 05/03/2026 | Paperback / softback,
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‘Tackles the pervasive tide of unbridled misogyny masquerading as kindness’ Julie Bindel’Victoria Smith is a brilliant writer who every feminist should read’ Sharron Davies’This brilliant book shows how demands for compassion and generosity can be a mask for sexist ideology’ Susanna Rustin(Un)kind is a coruscating account of the ways in which deeply-held beliefs about women’s ‘kind’ nature have been repackaged for today’s culture wars, in a society that remains dependent – socially, politically, economically – on female self-sacrifice.

Kindness culture is sold to women and girls in a multitude of guises: from play to self-help, social justice activism to empowerment. Victoria Smith argues that the pressure on women and girls has been incorporated into the ‘work’ of feminism.

A compelling account of the backlash against feminism, (Un)Kind is essential reading for anyone affected by the endless exhortations for women to #BeKind.

‘Brilliant… compelling’ Lucy Mangan, The i ‘Erudite, blisteringly smart and profoundly compassionate’ Dr Rachel Hewitt